Carnival Issues Again

In my column last week, I stated that I had heard no reason given to explain why Zion I’s calypso “Hypocrites” was not shown to those persons who paid through “Pay Per View” to see the Dimanche Gras’ show on Sunday night. This week it has all been coming out in the wash.

It appears to have been a deliberate decision by an individual or groups of individuals who did not like the calypsonian’s hard hitting composition. Despite claims about the possibility of words or lines being defamatory or libellous, this turns out to be hogwash since it appears that changes recommended and made had been accepted by the CDC lawyers. It is time we stop this nonsense for what is being done will help to kill that art form that from time immemorial has accommodated hard hitting calypsos. The calypsonian responds to issues ‘on the ground’ and states his position in song or in relating a narrative of matters at play in the society. It is quite proper that persons in the society react to activities of public figures even if they are politicians, in fact, especially if they are politicians for it is the public vote that would have placed them in whatever position they hold. While some use traditional media or social media the calypsonian crafts his response in song.

I was really surprised to have heard from one source that young calypsonian ‘Boneyman’ placed last in the Calypso finals. I said ‘surprised’ because I felt that he gave one of the better performances on the night, even without use of any ‘props’. His calypso, and the way he presented it, did what a calypsonian should do. I find quite often that ‘props’ take away from the song or in some cases had nothing to do with the song. But the young man was confident. He delivered in style. I listened to an interview he did with Bryan Alexander and was even more impressed. When he was asked why he was in the calypso field at a time when it was felt that young people had not been warming to calypso, he said that calypso allows him to express himself as it relates to matters happening around him. He was able, he said, to tell a story in song and moreover was able through the calypso to express his inner feelings. He was spot on because that is part of what the calypso is about. The last place given to him is ridiculous. As I said earlier his was one of the better performances on Sunday night. I am not suggesting that he should have won but to be placed last befuddles me. But as he says he recognises that in any competition like that the judges decision is final. This it appears will not dampen his spirit because he will come again.

This other matter isn’t about carnival but is related to carnival. It has apparently been said by the Prime Minister that teachers and public servants who were dismissed from their jobs for refusing to take the vaccines recommended for Covid-19 will be rehired if there is no surge in Covid-19 cases. Something beats me here! If we follow the science as we were urged to, it is almost impossible not to have had a surge following carnival although one would not have been able to predict the scale of the surge. On July 3 there were 52 active cases, this went to 35 on July 5 and on July 11, the latest figure I have seen is 115. We had before carnival been urged to protect ourselves by wearing masks and exercising social distancing measures. Protocols had been apparently disbanded for carnival and so patrons, vaccinated and unvaccinated, did as they normal do at carnival, hug each other and join the crowds to enjoy the sweet soca music; exactly what under times when protocols were in place we were urged not to do. If Covid-19 is still around and we know it is, then it was going to be virtually impossible not to have had a spike. We cannot therefore compare this with the situation at school on a normal workday or at the workplace. How this ends will be of great interest!

Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian